Blog
Hitomiza Otome Bunraku: A Century of Female Power in the World of Bunraku
About 320 years ago, long before the advent of towering three-dimensional signs, lines snaking outside popular eateries, clerks advertising store discounts, and the constant flow of tourists in Osaka's Dotonbori, Bunraku puppet drama was captivating the common folk. Theaters were frequented by audiences eager to experience tales drawn from historical events and local lore, presented in the form of Ningyo-Joruri, which quickly cemented itself as a beloved form of mainstream entertainment.
Whether Something Is Boring Is All About How You Look at It Hiromu ARAKAWA’s Creative Inspiration from Her Own Life
In part one of this article (How Behind-the-scenes Work on Benshi Pulls on the Heart), I talked about looking at ordinary things in a different way, and here I want to continue with that in discussing an interesting comic, Fullmetal Alchemist. I can still feel how it moved me when I read it in high school. The protagonists, brothers Edward and Alphonse, who are almost the same age as me, try to bring their mother back to life (which is forbidden in the world of alchemy) and consequently pay hefty prices – the removal of portions of their bodies* – as demanded by the god Truth.
Arts Talk | Lecture sidenotes for January to March
The "24 Hours BEETHOVEN" program, organized by Weiwuying, was the catalyst for the first season of Arts Talk. This series illuminated the stories behind BEETHOVEN's compositions and provided insights for the main event.
Different Layers of Taste: Dance a Dance from My Yellow Skin
A friend once gave me a yellow-brown, palm-sized pastry. At first, I assumed it had a red-bean filling and so just took a bite without thinking twice. But I was surprised to find that inside were three distinct flavors: salty pork floss, sweet mochi, and sweet red-bean puree. This combination of salty and sweet enveloped in the springy, al-dente pastry prompted me to take a close look to see what a rarity it was for its capacity to hold so many different flavors in such a small space.
Deluge of Boundless Novelty – 2024 Weiwuying International Music Festival
The Weiwuying International Music Festival, a major annual contemporary music event, is slated for its third edition, treating Taiwan’s music lovers to local and overseas world-class performers from all over the globe through the formats of concerts, forums, and videos. This year, several works by 80-year-old Hungarian composer Péter EÖTVÖS will be a focal point.
STRAVINSKY Would Post an Instagram Story If He Saw - Firebird and Rite of Spring
When it comes to STRAVINSKY, most people think of Rite of Spring. It is said that at the 1913 premiere, the audience was first amazed, then enraged, protesting quite raucously. The piece was viewed as too weird with its dissonant music and odd form of ballet. The audience was genuinely offended.
Weiwuying Showtime Series: Improv with Manzai Bonbon
Manzai is a form of comedy from Japan. Manzai Bonbon (part of the Japanese entertainment conglomerate Yoshimoto Kogyo), is a duo of MIKI and OOTA that has been in Taiwan for ten years. They write side-splitting jokes based on the differences in language and culture they come across in everyday life. For their tenth anniversary in Taiwan, they are set to present an all-new show at the Weiwuying Showtime series that is sure to make you laugh your manzai off!
2023 FACP Annual Conference in Kaohsiung at "Everyone's" Weiwuying
From November 23 to 26, 2023, Weiwuying and the Federation for Asian Cultural Promotion (FACP) put on the 2023 Annual Conference of the FACP in Kaohsiung, whose theme was "Next Stage, Green Generation – Sustainability in Culture and Performing Arts," discussing how to make the performing arts sustainable and recent developments. A new aspect of the event was Pitch for New Aspects, for which submissions from young artists around the world were recruited with the incentive of prize money.